Hattie - 2 years old

My baby girl turned two on January 30th 2015. There's so much to say about this spunky little girl it's hard to know where to start.

Dear Hattie,

At two years old you are so much more than I could have ever imagined. You have always been ahead of the curve. I've never worried about your development. You always have something to say these days. You tell stories. Some of your favorite stories that you tell over and over that Daddy and I would like to remember include: the time you rode the camel with Daddy at the zoo, that there are "no ghosts in here", or "shhh.. the ghosts are sleeping", "I was crying on santa's lap. I wanted Mama.", "Andreas took Emmett's cup.. at daycare", "We don't pull hair", etc. You always seem to know what is going on and what we are talking about. You are very aware at the mere age of two! You can count past ten but for some reason like to shout out the number 11 and stop. I'm not sure how high you can actually count! :) You are learning your letters like crazy - which I cannot believe. You know H for Hattie, D for Daddy, G Grandma, E for Emmett, X, U, W (which seems to be your favorite letter although we don't know why!), O, I, F for Felix and Papa Frank, etc. I think smart would be an understatement. You know that your birthday is January 30th and that you are now 2. You can also tell us what month each of us were born as well. You know what Mommy and Daddy's real names our as well as your first, middle, & last name.

You can be very particular about certain things. If you are tired and something doesn't go your way (Mommy tries to dry you off with the minion towel instead of the monster towel after bedtime for example) you can throw a fit that lasts a good while. We often make you go to time out until you calm down. Then you are comforted with some hugs from Mama, your white blankie, and your water. Your favorite stuffed animals are your monkeys - "Ooh Hoo" and your newest monkey named "Baby Monkey" that you got from Lucy at daycare for your birthday. Lucy also shares the same birthday as you and has a special place in your heart as does Jessica as well.

You have really developed a love of books over the last 6 months of so. Some of your favorites include "Hooper Humperdink, Not Him", "The Napping House", "I wish that I had Duck Feet", "Elmo & Friends Look & Find", "The Christmas Story" - which you refer to as the purple Jesus book, "Silly Sally", "Baby Dear", and many others.

Your favorite toys/activities include the Elsa doll you got from Christmas, Minnie's bow show figurines with outfits you can change, play food, coloring - and we have caught you coloring on the floor and wall at least 3 times now (which really makes Daddy mad!), as well as dress up clothes. You play with Emmett's toys too - cars, trains, etc you name it! You always ask us before getting into something "Can I play doctor?". :)

Favorite foods include macaroni & cheese, hot dogs, carrots & ranch dressing as well as lettuce & ranch dressing, breakfast foods like scrambled eggs, cinnamon raisin toast, and cereal. You really struggle with a lot of fruits and vegetables but we keep giving them to you anyway! Broccoli is typically something you will eat as well as apples, oranges, bananas, sometimes grapes, and cantalope.

At bedtime you like to have us sing you several songs. Mommy usually sings "Twinkle Twinkle", "Are you Sleeping" and "Brahms Lullaby". If you are really tired you are asleep by the time I finish singing. Sometimes you will tease me and say "No songs" (typically when you are tired). And then as soon as I close your door you cry and say "songs Mommy!".

Some of your favorite games include pretending to be a ghost with a blanket over your head. Running around with Emmett and hiding from Mom and Dad upstairs - which usually happens before bath time, and pretending that Daddy is a puppy. Sometimes you won't give Daddy a kiss, but you are willing to give the puppy a kiss! You like it when Daddy puts you up on his shoulders as well as flips you over on to the bed. Although it makes Mommy nervous. You are a little daredevil! You have never been afraid of slides or anything else really for that matter.

For your birthday this year we went to Omaha to the children's museum. January 30th was on a Friday so we took the day off of work. You and Emmett really had fun. There were so many great things for little people to play with. We let you ride the carousel 3 times and you would have ridden several more if we had let you. You both enjoyed riding the little train they have there as well. I think the carousel was your favorite part. You really liked "riding the horsey".

We love you so much Hattie! You are the sweetest and spunkiest little girl that I know. You are Mama's girl and always will be (I can hope, right?)! You are such a joy and I am so happy that you are a part of our family. We love you forever Hattie Jeanne!

Mommy, Daddy, Emmett & Baby Felix